Nov. 3--Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. has made changes to its successful fuelperks! program, making customers cash in rewards sooner and setting the bar higher for attaining them.

The changes went into effect yesterday.

Customers now have to spend $50 or more on a single transaction in order to earn a 5-cents-per-gallon discount, the company said yesterday on its Web site.

Before, customers received the reward for every $50 they spent regardless of the number of transactions and the timeframe.

Ukrop's also changed how long shoppers have to redeem the rewards.

In the past, fuelperks! rewards needed to be redeemed within 90 days.

Under the new system, the rewards have to be redeemed by the end of the month after the month in which the credits were attained. For example, credits earned in November must be redeemed by Dec. 31.

Ukrop's added a new way to earn the rewards, however.

Each week, the chain will highlight specials that automatically give customers the discount of 5 cents per gallon regardless of the $50 minimum single-transaction purchase.

Officials with Ukrop's did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.

The fuelperks! program, which began last year when gasoline prices were approaching $4 per gallon, originally offered customers a 10-cents-per-gallon discount for every $50 spent at a Ukrop's store.

The reward was reduced to 5 cents per gallon this year.

The discount is redeemable for gasoline at 30 Uppy's Convenience Stores.

In May, Ukrop's said 1 million customers had redeemed 14.2 million gallons of gas since the program began. Updated numbers were not available yesterday.

The Kroger Co. gives a 10-cents-per-gallon discount for every $100 a customer spends at one of its stores. It also gives the 10-cent discount on a gallon of gas for every two prescriptions filled and for every $50 spent on gift cards.

Unlike Ukrop's, Kroger customers can redeem just 10 cents per gallon off one fill-up before the end of the following month at company gas stations, regardless of how much was spent in its stores. ------

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or LLLovio@timesdispatch.com.

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